Ballad of a Soldier (1959)

Ballad of a Soldier was an enjoyable movie to watch. One of the most interesting aspects of this movie was the cinematography. I thought the shots and angles implemented in Ballad of a Soldier greatly conveyed the emotion of the actors and actresses. An example of this can be found in the close up shots of both Alyosha and Shura when they are in the train car. This part of the movie, along with the dramatic musical score, helps convey the feelings that Alyosha and Shura have for each other. Another interesting part of this movie can be reflected in its differences with the old Socialist realist movies of the 1930s. Socialist realist movies, such as Chapaev and Circus, were created as both entertainment and propaganda. Socialist realist movies often glorified the values and ideology of a socialist society. (equality, progress, work) Ballad of a Soldier focuses very little on these values. This movie instead focuses on one soldiers experience with the terror and destruction of war. One could say that this movie does not cater to the needs and wants of the Soviet government. Instead, Ballad of a Soldier provides both the director and viewer with a sense of artistic freedom and thought.